Projectile



' H. J; NICHOLS PROJEGIILEv Jail.- 27, 194s.

Y Filed June 24, 1942 Patented Jan. 271, 1948 OFFICE 1 raoJEc'rmE n Harry J. Nichols, New York, N. Y.

Application June 24, 1942, serial No. 448,291

9 Claims. (Cl. 102-52) This invention relates priniarilyA to .minorcalibre, armor-piercing, explosiveprojectiles especially designed for use against tanks, gun shields, destroyers, and similarlight-armored structures. The particular object off the invention is to provide a practical` projectile of simple construction which is more highly eflicientin penetrating armor at obliquejahgles as well as substantially normal angles of attack. Y

The contest between projectiles and armor is notably one in which the advantage has passed from one side to the other over `the years. Improvements, in projectiles .have called for `more effort and ingenuity inthe development of armor. Eventually Ythe improvements in armor have spurred the projectile makers .to greaterA efforts, and so on. At present it appears `thatllight armor has been improved relative "toV minor-.calibre projectiles to such a degree that aradical improvement in the armorpiercing ability of such pro jectilesyis neededto restore the balance;l

Itis accordingly a further major-object of this invention to provide a radicalimprovement in the armor piercing properties of minorcalibre projectiles 1without*radically-changing .their form nor increasingtheir cost, nor' requiring 'modification of the gun for iring-suchprojectilea` Another object isto l,utilize the power of an explosive charge --carried within the projectile body to increase the armorpiercing 'properties ofaprojectile.` p o l Another object `is toprovide a 4construction of armor-piercing projectiles in whicht'he projectile body functions during penetration as-an inverted gun thereby `to .enable an explosive charge carried by the projectile to propeltheprojectile through relativelythcker armonat any striking velocity thanhaslheretofore been possible. V ,jdn i.

Another object is to provide a novel construction vof armor-piercingprojectiles introducing a new principle. forV increasingsthe penetrating ability of a projectilein which` aninertia member is discharged backwards by anV explosive driving charge during impact of the i, projectile .with the target, and the reaction from said member` augments the forward momentum of `the projectile.

Other objects will be in `part obvious fromthe annexed Vdrawings 'and in` part thereinafter indicated in connection Itherewith by .the following analysis of this invention.4 A

This invention accordingly consists'inthe fea- I tures of construction,i yco1'nloinatic'in,iof parts, land in the unique.,relationfof.jthe`,,members andin the Vrelative proportoning and l'disposition thereof,all as more'compltely outlined herein.

To enable others skilled in the art fully to comprehend the underlying Yfeatures of this invention, that they may embody the same by the numerous modifications in structure and relation contemplated by the invention, drawings depicting three preferred embodiments of the invention form a part of this disclosure, and in such drawings like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the severalviews, in which- 'i Fig. 1 shows in longitudinal cross sectiona projectile embodying the new principle, termed the reaction principle, of augmenting the penetrating ability of armor-piercing projectiles; A

Fig. 2 shows in a similar manner another projectile construction embodying this novel principle of the invention; and

Fig. 3`shows yet another projectile construction embodying thisnovel principle of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and particularly to Fig. 1, a pointed head I0 and cylindrical hollow body II of a projectile there shown are integral, providing a main projectile structure of monobloc Vform of strong and massive proportions. Preferably the main projectile structure is madeof the highest quality alloy projectile steel and is heat treated for suitablehardness of the head I Il, and thereafter the body portion II is drawn back incrementally towards the base to provide a tough, elastic, non-shattering barrel portion. 'Ihe body II is provided with an axial bore I2 and a counter-bore I3` formed from the base end, providing a forward explosive chamber in which an explosive driving charge I4 is loaded and an after cavity in which, as herein shown, a relatively light base plug I5, called the reaction plunger, is fitted. tightly but slidably. A Vgasket I6 is preferably tted between a shoulder I1 of plunger I5 and the body I I `to insure a. gas-tight joint between those members while holding them together.v The body is fitted with a rotating band I8, preferably electro-deposited in place as described in my United States Patent No. 2,283,224, dated May 19. 1942. It should be noted that the monobloc construction just described provides a projectile whose strength is in no way decreased by the addition of thedriving charge I4 and the reaction plunger I5. Also the construction of the invention overcomes an inherent limitation of compound projectiles heretofore proposed, namely, the tendency to fracture or separation of the main component parts of the projectile upon impact with armor.

.For best results-in penetratingarmor, the head v I0 may be tted with a cap 2|) (Fig. 3) of softer may be fitted to reduce the air drag in night,

all being of well known construction.

The reaction plunger I is preferably provided with an inner bore 22, and a counterbore 23; A metal exploder ball 24 is securelybseated in the several thousand feet per second, imparting a powerful reaction to the projectile body itself.

' Referring now to Fig. 2, in the embodiment there shown, the forward reduced portion of the reaction plunger 30 is left solid, but a groove 3l is cut into the neck portion thereof to form a head 32. 'I'he purpose of the groove 3| is to provide means for predetermining the degree of impact at which explosion of the driving charge I4 occurs. The deeper the groove and hence the weaker the neck, the lesser the degree of impact at which the head 32 will detach itself and produpe an explosion of the driving charge.

bottom of the bore 22 by cementing, soldering, Y

or other suitable retaining means. A charge of detonating explosive 25, termed the detonator charge, is preferably enclosed in a, metal capsule 2 6 and is assembled in the counterbore23. Preferably@ disc. .0r wad 2111s passmbled between the driving charge I4 and the inner end 28 of plunger .|.5 .I

HTheoperation of the projectile shown in Fig. l onimpact with armor is as follows: On striking andas the headvl penetrates into the armor, the exploder yball2 4 yis, dislodged from its seat and flies forwardly t strike' the' detonator vcharge 25, exploding same. This charge in turn detonates the driving chargepl, and the combined gases of the two produce an impulsive pressure amounting to a. powerful blowron the walls of the chamber of the projectile. vvThis pressure acts to drive head I0J forwardly andureaction plunger I5 rearwardly4 (in relation to head I0) with great force. Following well known laws ofphysic's the kinetic blow of the driving charge and, the reaction from plunger I5 produce a powerful forward acting force on the main structure of the projectile augmenting its momentum due to forward flight, and thereby increasing its ability to perforate the armor plate. p

Itis to be noted that the exploder ball Yprovides amean's of variably timing the rexplosion'of the driving 'charge in inverse relation to the degree of impact. In other words, on heavy impact the explosionoccurs more quickly than on light impact,` becauseA the ball is thrown forward more quickly,`and on heavy impact, the critical instant determining perforation or nonperfration occurs at an earlier stage of penetration.

For vpurposes 'of the invention, a detonatable explosive charge of low brisance herein `termed a driving charge is preferred. The explosive action des'i'ed is that Which produces the maximum velocity of ejection of the reaction plunger I5 without or before bursting theproje'ctile body. Explosives of the Vnitroglycerine-nitrocellulose typ, a`sfor example cordite, can be rused in 'some case/s. Explosives Yo'f 4this class v'are of greatly redu'cd shatteringpower as* compared to the usual shell-charge explosives such as ',I. N. T. or piciic acid. As an alternative to cordite or` the like, mixtures of ammonium nitrate or perchlorate, aromatic nitro-compounds, and carbonaceousmaterials can be utilized toobtain graduated degreesof brisance. Hence it is evident that by following the teaching of this invention, Aa varietyofdriving charges can be produced to cause high velocity Aejection of the reaction plunger in various sizes, proportions, vandstrengths of vproje'ctiles. Experiments have indicated that under proper conditions a detonatable driving charge can eject the reaction plunger at velocities of Gn striking armor of suicient resistance, the head portion 32 of the reaction plunger will separat and plunge forward with great force, impacting and exploding the driving charge I4. The vlatter ejects the entire plunger 3U rearwardly with great force. The reaction force augments theY forward,v velocity of the projectile proper as previously deseribed Since the driving charge I4 in Fig. 2 is to be exploded by impact of the head 32, rather than by the customary detonator, the proper selection of the explosive forpthat charge requires consideration. For example, theyrelative sensitiveness to impact of representative shell-charge explosives has been authoritatively given as approxi'- mately:

(In this tabulation the smaller the number the greater the sensitivity.) Hence, -by Vchoosing explosives 'of proper sensi'- tivity the degree of impact to produce explosive action can be predetermined by those familiar with the subject. Y

Referring now to Fig. 3, in the embodiment therein shown the reaction plunger 4,0 is a solid piece of metal gf sumcient strength to resist heavy impacts, but in this 'embodiment the driving charge 4I itself is o'f 'a nature and forni to produce 'self-detonat'i'n on' heavy impact with armor. To that 'end the explosive charge is preferably in two increments 4I-4-2 of different sensitivity, the most sensitive increment preferalbly beingloaded in 'the 4forward portion of the cavity 43 as shown, -or th'e charge may be a mixture of sensitive and V`insensitive explosive materials, or a 'single sensitive explosive ccmpound may 'b einpliiyed,n For example, in the preferred forni shown, Hthe forward explosive increment 42 may be a sensitive explosive, such as tetyl, while an explosive vof lower lbrisance, such as Van ammonal, indicated at v4 I, is preferred frfthe rear increment. By suitable choice of thexltils'ive` components following the teaching o'fftl'ie invention, the degree of impact at which self-detonation of the driving charge will occur can be determined vas desired.

It 'is to be noted that the embodiments shown inv Figs., 2 ,and 3 -enable a tracer to be housed in theb'ase of the reaction plunger.

It may at flr'st thought appear `that the augmentation of the penetrating Vforce by the explosive force of the self-'contained driving charge is lhardly enough to be important. But it has been found by 'actual experiment with projectiles fired against 'armor plate that 'a small increase of momentum in` the vicinity of the critical velocity of perforation has an extraordinary effect `with respect to ability to perforate. For example,'if a particular projectile just failed to perforate a particular plate at 2000 f. s., an increase of `striking velocity of 50 f..s. or only 2l/2% will `not only enable the projectile to perforate the plate, but the residual velocity of the projectile after perforation will be several hundred feet per second. Also, experiments have shown that high explosive charges under favorable conditions'can drive the headiorward with unbelievable force. At criticaliand sub-critical velocities, the" additional forceprovided by the explosive driving charges, utilized as provided for by the invention, will have an entirely unexpected effect in increasing the perforating properties of a projectile.

It will be evident from the above that the present invention provides simple and practical means for improving the armor-piercing ability of projectiles of the class described.

Without further analysis the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting certain features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of the invention, and therefore such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An explosive armor-piercing projectile comprising, in combination, a pointed head portion adapted to pierce armor and a body portion integral therewith having an axial bore and comprising a non-shattering explosive chamber, a high explosive driving charge loaded in said chamber, a rearwardly ejectable base closure member mounted slidable in said bore and adapted to utilize by rearward movement part of the explosive force of said driving charge, and means for detonating said driving charge with relation to the degree of impact of the projectile with armor, thereby to augment the forward momentum of said head and body during the penetration of armor.

2. An explosive armor-piercing projectile comprising, in combination, a monobloc head and hollow body having an axial bore, a high explosive driving charge loaded in said bore, and 'lesser ejectable member slidably mounted in said bore rearwardly of said charge and adapted by rearward movement to cause the explosion of said charge to react upon and augment the forward momentum of said head and body upon impact of said head with armor.

3. In explosive armor-piercing projectiles including a monobloc head and hollow body, means for augmenting the forward momentum of said head and body on impact with armor comprising a high explosive driving charge of low brisance sealed within the projectile body, a rearwardly ej ectable base closure member mounted slidably in said bore rearwardly of said charge in operative relation thereto, and detonating means for exploding said charge in exactly executed variable relation to the impact of the projectile with armor.

4. In explosive armor-piercing projectiles, in combination, a monobloc head and hollow body structure, and means for augmenting the armor piercing ability of said structure comprising a high explosivecharge vof ,low lbri'sance ksealed bodilyA within saidbody, a base closure member mounted rearwardly` slidably in said body and adapted to be ejected at high velocity therefrom by said charge thereby to drive the head and body structure forwardly by reactive force, and detonatingmeans for said-charge Aadapted to cause the explosion of said charge in inverse time relationto the degree of impact of said head with armor.

5. In explosive armor-piercing projectiles, a pointedhead and relatively massive hollow body memberintegral therewith constituting a combined armor-piercing projectile and secondary gun, a charge of high explosive of low brlsance sealed within said body and constituting the propulsive charge of said secondary gun, a lesser ejectable base closure member constituting a relatively smaller sub-projectile adapted to be ejected rearwardly by said charge, thereby to augment by means of reactive force the forward momentum of said head and body, and means for detonating said high explosive in predetermined, exact relation to the penetration of armor.

6. An explosive armor-piercing projectile comprising, in combination, a pointed armorpiercing head and a massive body integral therewith having an axial bore including an explosive chamber, a charge of high explosive of low brisance loaded in said chamber, and an ejectable base closure means for said body including a reaction plunger mounted in said bore rearwardly of said charge' and adapted to be ejected rearwardly by said charge thereby to augment reactively the armor piercing ability of said head and body, and means for detonating said charge in predetermined relation to the impact of said head with armor.

7. In an explosive armor-piercing projectile including an armor-piercing head and a body portion integral therewith having an internal explosive chamber, means for augmenting the armor-piercmg ability of said head including a rearwardly ejectable base closure for` said explosive chamber and an explosive charge within said chamber comprising a plurality of explosive components adapted in combination to explode onV heavy impact with armor, one of said components being insensitive to impact and adapted to cushion the other components against premature explosion when said projectile is red in a gun.

S. An explosive armor-piercing projectile comprising, in combination, an armor-piercing head portion and a relatively massive body portion integral with said head portion having a relatively small explosive combustion chamber therein, an explosive propulsion charge contained wholly within said chamber, means positioned rearwardly of said charge for exploding the charge after impact and in predetermined relation to the instant of impact, and a plunger tightly fitting and slidable in the base of the body portion of the projectile, said plunger including a detachable forward portion adapted to move forwardly on impact to explode the propulsion charge within the combustion chamber.

9. An explosive armor-piercing projectile comprising, in combination, an armor-piercing head portion and a relatively massive body portion integral with said head portion having a relatively small explosive combustion chamber therein, an explosive propulsion charge contained wholly within said chamber, means positioned rearwardly of said charge for exploding the charge after impact and in predetermined relation to the instant of impact, and a. plunger tightly fitting and slidable inV the base of the body portion of the projectile, the means for eX- ploding the propulsion charge including a detachable member associated with the plunger andv adapted to move forwardly on impact to explode the propulsion charge within said chamber in predetermined relation to said impact.,

HARRY J. NICHOLS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

8 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Date Name DeMare Oct. 30, 1900 Dunwoody July 13, 1915 Barlow Aug. 14, 1917 Nichols Oct. 18, 1921 Barnhart Nov. 22, 1938 Booker Dec. 13, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain 1862 Great Britain 1891 

